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Jainism, Art and Education-an overture
Priti Kumari*
Śramana, Vol. 59, No. 4 October-December 2008
Jainism is one of the most organised living religions of the world. It has its philosophy that envisages and succinctly throws light on its theoretical aspects and practical teachings. On its theoretical arrangement, it places the whole universe under the two everlasting categories: jīva and ajīva, its pluralistic, realistic and relativistic stand- points, its concept of knowledge in its pristine and pure form: Kevala-jñāna and its reality that suffers change and yet endures as the privilege of existence. In its practical teachings, it posits with extreme severity the precious principles of life: tri-ratna (three-jewels) of Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct. Similarly, five-vows of an ascetic i.e., not to injure, not to utter falsehood, not to steal, to lead celibate life and to renounce the world. For layman, it replaces them by chastity and contentment, the two main keys of successful life of citizenry in this world. All these tend to make Jainism profound, propelling and expressive of profundity to sustain at both levels of laity and asceticism as the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics spreading over vast and varied range of followers and opposites bearing ranked inspiration in disciplines. The disciplinal fields of Art and Education cited as paradigms amply justify such exaltation.
Art
Jainism in its literature prominent among which Samaväyärgasūtra,' Jñātādharmakathänga-sūtra, Aupapātika-sūtra,3 Praśnavyākaraṇa-sūtra, Rājapraśnīya-sūtra clearly presents its views on art and artifacts and paves the way for their understanding in their exalted Lecturer, B. Ed. Section, Govt. P.G. College, Ranikhet, Almora (Uttaranchal)
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